Help me decide, LMFT or Teacher?

[jenfur]

I am 33 and at a total loss as to what to do after I graduate. I know I want to keep going and get my Master’s but can’t decide which career I want. I have seen my husband complete the Master’s in Counseling program which would lead to a license in Marriage and Family Therapy, which is what I wanted to do. I know I would have no problem in the program at all. However, there is also another program nearby that would allow me to get a degree in education. I would love to be an English (first choice) or history teacher (would have to be high school). I have made lists of pros and cons and I just have no idea what to do or even if my lists are accurate.

Any information from those with experience in these areas would be great.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Those are 2 very different paths. You are wise to step back if you are unsure. Is there a way you could find someone in both fields to allow you to shadow them for the day?

I thought I would love to be a teacher. I love kids. I'm patient. Perfect fit right. Well, no. I am glad I signed off on being a substitute first because no-way am I wired for that job. So many kids, so much apathy. I didn't have the command of presence to keep them in line. I don't like to be bossy so it just didn't work well at all. I'm not saying this to discourage you, I am saying this to encourage you to try it on before you jump in. I suggest to call a few local school districts to see if they are in need of subs, then see if you can be an emergency sub if they need them. You will know first hand if its for you or not.

As a compromise, you could be a counselor in the school environment. From what I understand they pay very well

 

[barkley]

you might also want to see what the job market is like for both in your area. i know in our area as far as highschool teachers go the only openings are in very limited subject areas. it seems like the ones that are getting hired outside those subjects tend to have multiple certifications (i guess the districts figure they get more bang for the buck).

school counseling could be something to look at, but the pool of open jobs can be slim (bf's dh has been one with the same district for over 20 years and he sweating out if his job will be around next year, he's kicking himself for not having taken nite and summer classes to get teaching certified in at least subject).

i don't know what's up with lmft's. when i worked for social services we always had a TON of new social workers hiring in who were lmft's that planned to do a couple of years with us and then out and hang up their own shingle (i guess it somehow looked appealing for them to be able to say they had worked for us), but (at least where i retired from) now they are laying of sw's left and right so i suspect in some regions there might be a glut of new grads and former social servicers opening shop or competing for positions (and i don't know about other people's health coverage, but with ours it seems like the co-pays for these kinds of services have gone UP, UP, UP-i can't imagine how allot of people manage these expenses).